Stanford, CA - September 3, 2011: Stanford Cardinal linebacker A.J. Tarpley (17) before the game between Stanford Cardinal and San Jose State Spartans at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. Final score Stanford Cardinal 57, San Jose State Spartans 3.
Stanford, CA - September 3, 2011: Stanford Cardinal linebacker A.J. Tarpley (17) before the game between Stanford Cardinal and San Jose State Spartans at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California. Final score Stanford Cardinal 57, San Jose State Spartans 3.

STANFORD, CA - SEPTEMBER 3: Jarek Lancaster plays during a game between Stanford and San Jose State. Stanford defeated San Jose State 57-3 at Stanford Stadium, September 3, 2011 in Stanford, California.
STANFORD, CA - SEPTEMBER 3: Stanford defeats San Jose State 57-3 at Stanford Stadium, September 3, 2011 in Stanford, California.

Both have seen plenty of action this year on scrimmage plays and special teams, but each is about 15 pounds lighter than Skov, the team's leading tackler last year and this year.

Skov injured his knee in Saturday night's victory over Arizona. The school has not disclosed the precise nature of the injury.

"It's a big loss," coach David Shaw said Tuesday. "Shayne is a heck of a football player. But we're not going to stop playing."

Tarpley "has played extremely well," and Lancaster on Saturday night "played the best game I've seen him play," Shaw said. "He was all over the place. We have a lot of faith in those guys ... and they're going to play well for us."

Lancaster, a 6-foot-1, 238-pound Texan, was a 205-pound safety when he arrived at Stanford. It took just two days for the coaches to switch him to linebacker, he said, and they told him to bulk up. He has played both inside and outside, but says he's more comfortable on the inside.

Tarpley, who's 6-2, 235 pounds, was born in Los Angeles but lived in Memphis and Cincinnati before going to high school in a Minneapolis suburb. His father, Aubrey, who played at Georgia Tech in the '70s, is a construction contractor whose work led the family to move several times. A.J.'s brother, Matt, is a walk-on wide receiver at Ole Miss.

Skov "knows we need to fill his role as a committee," Tarpley said. "No one of us can do his job alone."

Both players said Skov was generous in passing on linebacking lessons to them even before he got hurt.

"Obviously, they're giant shoes to fill," Lancaster said. "He's the emotional leader on the team. ... He's not going to sit around and sulk or feel sorry for himself.

"He's in our meeting rooms, trying to give me every little bit of information he could possibly give me to help me become a better player. Having him in my corner is helping me be more confident."

Shaw called Lancaster and Tarpley ball hawks. "They're both slippery and hard-to-block guys," he said.

He wouldn't speculate on whether Skov's injury might make him less inclined to enter the NFL draft in April. The junior probably will still be rehabbing his left knee and might want to return in 2012 to convince the scouts he's sound enough for the pro game.

"I would hope that he would come back," Shaw said. "He and I haven't had that conversation. My mind-set is for him coming back and being a dominating college player next year."

Don't expect to see a Skov-style Mohawk haircut on either Lancaster or Tarpley.

"I don't think either of us could possibly pull the look off like Shayne," Lancaster said. He might wear "a little eye-black in recognition of him, but definitely not the Mohawk. I think my mom would disapprove of that look."

Freshman James Vaughters, though listed as an inside linebacker, looks like a potential playmaker at defensive end in the nickel because of his speed and strength. He will continue to practice as an inside backer as well, Shaw said.

Briefly: Freshman cornerback Wayne Lyons may be redshirted as a result of his undisclosed injury, which will keep him out a few more weeks, Shaw said. The coaches don't want to burn his redshirt year unless he's going to play a pivotal role. ... Tight end Coby Fleener was clearly bashed in a helmet-to-helmet tackle by Arizona linebacker Derek Earls, but no penalty was called. Shaw said only that the tape of the play was sent to the Pac-12 for review.